# lowering

/ˈɫoʊɝɪŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lowering
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. the act of bringing down

noun · CEFR B2

the act of making something lower or less.

For teachers: the act or process of bringing something down in height, level, or status.

- The lowering of the flag happens every day at sunset.
- The gradual lowering of the water level revealed several ancient structures that had been submerged for decades.

### 3. vowel change

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a change in how a person says a vowel sound, making it sound lower in the mouth.

For teachers: a phonological process in which a vowel is produced with a lower tongue position than its previous or original state.

- The teacher explained how the vowel sound changed through lowering over many years.
- Historical linguists often cite the lowering of certain high vowels as a key feature in the evolution of this specific dialect group.

### 4. dark and threatening

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

looking dark and stormy, or having a mean and angry look on your face.

For teachers: appearing dark, overcast, and threatening, as of the sky or weather; can also describe a sullen or frowning facial expression.

- The lowering clouds made us think a big storm was coming.
- Under a lowering sky, the hikers hurried toward the shelter, wary of the approaching thunder and the lack of natural cover.

Usage: Often spelled 'louring' in older British texts.

## Examples

- The lowering of prices helped the store sell more clothes.
- A gradual lowering of the interest rate encouraged more people to take out home loans.
- The careful lowering of the heavy machinery into the basement required a team of ten engineers and a specialized crane system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.